Preview



Looking ahead along the way

 When Bear and I began our little adventure we knew we would be making memories for use later in life, perhaps for those times when we are destined to make our last port in life's voyage.  We did not expect those memories to be particularly spectacular, nor of interest to anyone other than ourselves.  After just nine months, we have a cache of memories that is certainly a good start.  There are those that cause nightmares and those that would embarrass most folks.  We have some that could be the stuff of travel magazines and some that could be discarded were it not for the fact that they are chiseled into our hard drive. Altogether they make up a pretty good start on the stuff that we might remember when we grow up. 

Our "Ships Log" is mostly about geography and mechanics but this blog is about perceptions and ports, about impressions of people along the way and about mistakes and the old learning curve.  It is about how one can find pleasure living in a space smaller than our bedroom back home.  It is about the dance we do as we pass each other in tight places aboard and how we learned to do that without stepping on toes and dropping stuff.  It is about sleeping head to toe in a berth smaller than a single bed and how to dodge a kick in the face while fully unconscious asleep-- or not.  It is about that darn hatch handle that has always been there yet is forgotten until it buries that little button on top of a cap in the top of my head.  In my case, it is about learning patience and overcomming my ADHD, which I think I have done.  It is about wondering where the other boat is headed and where they have been and the wonder of how folks that old are still doing it.  I am sure others think of us that way since we see very few youngsters "out there".  This is like a visit to a wildlife park that is infinitely long and only accessible by boat. 

We have done a fair amount of land exploration and are constantly amazed at the demarcation between normal land life and the other dimension:  the water world.  Those who fish, ski or go to the beach are usually home after dark and they really miss one of the true rewards.  Like staying "at the coast" on Sunday, one sees the visitors disappear.  One is treated to something the locals have long forgotten and those who went home to "get ready for work on Monday" will not enjoy.  It is having the water world to yourself.  For the moment it is yours and all that it holds is displayed just for you.  Along the way, we have anchored in places where we did not encounter another human for hours.  It is a pleasure to listen to nature without motors.  It has been so completely enjoyable that we have yet to listen to the books on tape or the music we brought aboard for more than a few minutes total.  The sound of silence is truly golden. 

Now that we are in the Hill Country for a few weeks, I catch myself previewing those memories, sort of trying them on for size to see if they will work when we can no longer go to sea.  Methinks we are doing just fine filling the memory box.  Hopefully, the box will continue to grow now that our visits to the spine guys are done.  Heck, I was aboard last night for a couple of hours.  I would bet Bear was too.